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Marrakech Travel Guide

Marrakech Travel Guide

Affectionately labelled the 'Paris of the Sahara',
Marrakech is one of the most alluring urban travel destinations in
the world:

A mysterious labyrinthine medina, snake charmers and acrobats on
the panoramic central square, colourful bazaars, the aroma of
sizzling delicacies, an overload of ancient sites, and beautiful
Moroccan architecture await travellers in Marrakech. The
intoxicating city was an ancient caravan trading post, and retains
its traditional atmosphere along with a lively modern tourist trade
which draws millions of visitors to Marrakech each year for an
exotic getaway.

Marrakech is not always an 'easy' destination as it is a chaotic
city which can be bewildering, but the challenge is part of the
appeal for many adventurers. The city's souks and restaurants are a treat
for travellers and Marrakech is a great stop for foodies and
shoppers. History buffs will find plenty to interest and enchant
them, and those in search of a fun nightlife will not be
disappointed. Anyone who has a yen for exciting cultural
destinations, or is looking for something different and unique,
will be charmed by a holiday in Marrakech, which can feel like a
trip back in time to medieval Morocco.

Best time to visit Marrakech

The sun shines nearly all year in Marrakech, which has an almost
Mediterranean climate. Those who enjoy the heat should holiday in
Marrakech during July, but the best time to travel to Marrakech is
during spring (April to June), when bright blue skies offset the
rosy hue of the city's clay buildings and temperatures are
comfortable. Read more on Marrakech's Climate and
Weather.

-Visit the Saadian Tombs, a
16th-century necropolis with beautiful mosaics.

Beyond Marrakech

Marrakech is a fantastic base for excursions into the Atlas
Mountains and the Sahara Desert and there are numerous popular
daytrips from the city: for a beach break head to the popular
resort city of Agadir; for an
experience of ancient Morocco visit the UNESCO-listed Ait Benhaddou; to appreciate the natural
beauty of the mountains explore the Todra Gorge; and for a touch of skiing in
the winter months head to Oukaimeden.

Getting there

Marrakech-Menara International Airport, situated four miles
(6km) southwest of Marrakech, is among the busiest airports in
Morocco and can be a bit chaotic. There are direct flights to
Marrakech from a number of cities in Europe and the UK and indirect
flights from the US. Get more information on Airports in Marrakech.

Traversing the alleyways and souks of Marrakech, particularly in
the Medina (Old City), it is easy to believe you have been
transported back in time or stumbled onto a movie set for a
medieval 'Arabian nights' production. It is this enchanting,
fairytale quality that brings thousands of sightseers to the
most-visited of Morocco's three Imperial Cities, Marrakech. The
heart of the Medina is Djemaa el-Fna, an irregular 'square' where
everything seems to happen and the place to which tourists are
drawn time and again to soak up the carnival-like environment.
Tourism, though, has not spoilt the atmosphere: if anything, it has
only added to it. The modern side of Marrakech (called Gueliz or
Ville Nouvelle), with its luxury hotels, banks and streets bursting
with motor scooters, blends well with the past in a metropolis made
up of people from the Berber Atlas tribes, Mahgrebis from the
plains, and Saharan nomads.

Marrakech was founded in 1062 by Youssef bin Tachfine of the
Almoravid dynasty, and his son perfected the city by bringing in
architects and craftsmen from Cordoba to build palaces, baths,
mosques and a subterranean water system. The city walls were raised
from the red mud of the plains, with the snow-covered peaks of the
High Atlas Mountains forming a backdrop for the city, though they
are often hidden by the heat haze.

One of the many ways to soak up the sights and sounds of
Marrakech is in one of the hundreds of horse-drawn carriages (known
as caleches) that are for hire, but it is also necessary to take in
the Medina's souks on foot, plunging into the hurly-burly maelstrom
of passages where tradesmen ply various crafts, from cloth dyeing,
copper beating, and leather working to herbalists, perfumers and
slipper makers; and where shopkeepers cajole passing tourists into
taking a look at their glorious array of colourful crafts.

Our Travel Expert

Abdessamad is a tourism expert based in Marrakech, with lots of advice to share with travellers in Morocco.

We are looking for contributors for our Marrakech travel guide.
If you are a local, a regular traveller to Marrakech
or a travel professional with time to contribute and answer occasional forum questions, please contact us.

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